Magical Milestone Looms for NBL Star

Having played his first NBL game as an 18-year-old, barely out of high school, you can understand why the 300-game milstone is so "special" for Mitch Creek. 

After some magical memories and of course, like any professional athlete, some challenges along the way, the now 30-year-old will reach the magical mark on Sunday.

“It’s special in a way because I don’t play for the milestone, I don’t play for the accolades or anything, you play to win and to try and build something special,” Creek said on SEN Breakfast.

“I really do appreciate everyone who has been to the games and shown me any kind of support good or bad, because it’s an exciting game, we’re very blessed to play this game.”

Creek started his career in Adelaide, playing with the 36ers for eight straight seasons, spent time in Germany's Bundesliga, had a stint in the G-League, and even suited in the NBA for Brooklyn and Minnesota. 

“The first four of five years of my career in Adelaide, I spent eight years in Adelaide, I barely played ... I was coming off the bench, fourth or fifth rotation guy off the bench. I was one of the worst players on the roster and I slowly built my way into it,” Creek said.

“I think about the memories and some of the moments in training, in the game, some of the feelings on court with the crowd. All the positives and all the negatives, I remember getting booed off the Adelaide court ... we were up by 19 in the last quarter against Cairns and ended up losing the game and the whole 7,000 fans booed us off our own home court.

Mitch Creek played eight seasons at the Adelaide 36ers. 

Sure there's been ups and downs, but for Creek, his talent could never be denied. 

Upon arriving at the South East Melbourne Phoenix in 2019, he took to his game to a whole new level. 

To average 13 points, five rebounds across 12 seasons is impressive in itself, but his numbers at his second NBL club are simply outstanding. 

20 points and six rebounds ... it's a statline most players would be proud of in an individual game. For Creek, that's his average across the last 103 games at the Phoenix. It's impressive to say the least. 

Creek has been an incredibly consistent performer, and right now, he's playing some of the best basketball of his career. At the age of 30, he's putting up career-high scoring.

“I’m extremely thankful for everyone that’s given me opportunities, to all the fans who have been fantastic to me, to all the fans that have motivated me talking absolute crap, swinging it at me every week from the sidelines, I appreciate both sides of it I understand passion and relentlessness,” he said.

“That’s who I am and how I play, I don’t call it haters or anything like that ... they’re just passionate people who support their own and when someone else comes into my house that’s unwanted I don’t want them to do well, so I would let them know about it too.”

Creek’s 300th will be at home for the Phoenix at John Cain Arena on Sunday, with tip-off at 4pm AEDT against the Illawarra Hawks. 

“A milestone of 300 is amazing, but a win on the 300th would make it even better.”

Mitch Creek representing the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA.